Electric signal and switch therefor



'April 8, 1930. H. HOROCHOWSKY ELECTRIC SIGNAL AND SWITCH THEREFOR Fil ed Sept. 24, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ,yQflzzenligr: I d arac 3* April 1930. H. HOROCHOWSKY 1,753,568

ELECTRIC SIGNAL AND SWITCH THEREFOR Filed Sept. 24, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i 4/4 7; a J

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Patented Apr. 8, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE -A1\TTHONY HOROCHOWSKY, OF ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR F ONE-FOURTH TO CHARLES LEFGHICK, OF ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY ELECTRIC SIGNAL AND SWITCH THEREFOR Application filed September 24, 1928. Serial No. 307,799.

The present invention relates to electric signals adapted for use at railroad crossings, and has for its object the provision of a switch for intermittently closing the electric circuit, and which switch is to be operable by the vibration of the rail as the train approaches.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an intermittent circuit closing device which may be suspended below the rail and which may be actuated by the vibration of the rail as the train approaches.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an electric circuit closing switch to be used in combination with an electric signal. With the above general objects in view and others that will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same con- 0 sists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings forming a part of this application and in which like designating characters refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Fig. 1 illustrates a railroad crossing showing the relative positions in respect of the railroad and the crossing, of the present device, and of the railroad signal with which the same is intended to cooperate;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view on a vertical plane of the switch;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view on a reduced scale of means for fastening the device to the rail;

Fig. 4: is a horizontal cross-sectional view through the device taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view on a vertical plane of a portion of a ball-and-socket joint used in connection with the present device;

Fig. 6 is an elevational bottom view of said portion of the device; and

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view of the electric circuit.

Referring to the present drawings, and more particularly to Fig. 1 there is shown a railroad track 10 with highway 11 crossing the track. At some distance from the crossing and suspended below one of the rails is the present device which is generally indicated by 12, with wires leading to the electric battery 13, lamp 14 and bell 15.

The switching device, generally indicated by numeral 12 on Figs. 1 and 7, includes a substantially square plate 16 having at two opposite sides upwardly projecting walls 17, which are integrally formed with said plate 16 and in conjunction therewith constitute a channel for receiving therewithin flange 18 of the rail 19. A. pair of wedge-shaped lugs 20 adjacent each wall 17 are adapted. to rest upon and engage the upper face of flange18 adjacent the edges thereof. Screws 21 passing through said walls 17 engage lugs 20 and hold the same in rigid position with respect to walls 17 and thus hold plate 16 in contact with the lower face of flange 18 of rail 19.

Integrally formedwith said plate 16 and downwardly projecting therefrom is a cylin drical wall 22 having the lower edge outwardly threaded as at 23 for receiving housing 24 by means of which the remaining parts. of the mechanism hereinafter described are inclosed and protected from weather and other causes which would likely impair the operation thereof.

Mounted upon the lower face of plate 16 by means of screws 25 is an insulating plate 26 made of rubber, fiber or any other suitable insulating material.

Mounted at the lower face of said insulating plate26 isa round plate 27, which is attached to said plate 26 by means of a plurality of screws having heads 29 which are sunk from above in plate 26. Nuts 30 engaging the lower ends of said screws 28 holdsaid plate 27 in position beneath plate 26.

Integrally formed with and downwardly projecting from said plate 27 and centrally thereof is a hollow stud 31, having the lower edge thereof incised to form a series of leaves 32 arranged in round formation, as clearly seen on Fig. 6.

Upon placing ball 33 within socket 34 in stud 31 the lower portions of said leaves 32 are bent toward said ball 33 as indicated by dotted lines on Fig. 5 and clearly seen on Fig. 2. Integrally formed with said ball 33 and downwardly projecting therefrom is rod 35 from which a bell'shaped extension 36 downwardly depends, as seen on Fig. 2.

The device further includes a globular casing consisting of a lower semi-spherical section 37 and an upper semi-spherical section 38, the two sections being separated by washer 39 which is integrally formed with ring 40 and from which said washer 39 inwardly projects. Both said washer and said ring are made of insulating material such as rubber or the like. Said ring 40 is adapted to encompass-two sections 37 and 38 at their adjacent edges, as seen on Fig. 2, and thus to hold said washer 39 in position between the two sections.

Rod 41 provided with head 42 at its lower end is adapted to pass through both sections 37 and 38 and centrally thereof. The upper end of said rod 41 is threaded and is receivable within threaded bore 43 made centrally and longitudinally of the bell-shaped extension 36. Head 42 is adapted to hold the lower section 37 and to maintain the same in position with respect to the upper section 38.

Annular block 44 is positioned upon the upper portions of the upper section 38, its lower face being scooped to contact with and fit: the periphery of said section 38. Said block 44 has a central opening 45 registering with opening 46 of like dimension made in the uppersection 38. Bushing. 47 isadapted to remain within said openings 45 and 46 and to extend within the upper section 38.

Integrally formed with said bushing 47 and laterally projecting from the upperend thereof is washer 48 which rests upon the upper face of said block 44. Positioned upon said'washer 48 is a metallic washer 49 which is interposed between washer 48 and the lower end of the bell-shaped extension 36. Said bushing 47, washer 48 and washer 49 each has a central bore or opening through which rod 41' passes.

which said block 44 is a terminal, while wire 51 contacts with washer 49 for which the same acts as a terminal.

The lower section 37 is adapted to receive and hold electricity conducting fluid 52 such as mercury or the like, the surface of said fluid normally being on a line centrally of washer 49, as clearly seen on Fig. 2.

Wire 50 runs to battery 13, while wire 51 passesto lamp 14 and then to hell 15, the battery 13, lamp l4 and bell 15 being of conventional and usual constructions.

Cylindrical wall 22 is provided at one point with an opening 53 within which an insulating bushing or ring 54 is positioned through which said wires 50 and 51 pass outwardly of housing 24.

From the hereinabove description it will be apparent that ball 33 is adapted for free movement within socket 34 in stud 31, and since the. globular casing 37-38, is suspended upon said ball 33 by means of rod 41 any vibration or movement imparted to rail 19 by the approaching train will likewise be imparted to said globular casing, in consequence of which said globular casing will be adapted to make swinging movements in all directions.

As is seen on Fig. 2, and as is apparent from the. hereinabove description, wire 50 contacts only with the upper section 38. through the medium of block 44. 'Normally wire 51 contacts only with the lower section 37 through the medium. of rod- 41' and.

washer 49. Bushing 47 and washer- 48 in.- sulate washer 49, rod 41 and lower. section 37 from the upper section- 38 and block 44. As long as rod41 andsections 37 and 38 arein vertical stationary position, as shown on Fig. 2, surface of. fluid. 52. remains below the lower edge of section 38 and does not come in contact therewith. When, however, the approaching traincauses rail 19 to vibrate, said rod 41 together with the globular casing 3738 will be caused due to the vibration to makeswinging movements upon ball 33 in consequence ofv which fluid. 52 will make intermittent contacts with section. 38 as the same swings.

At any timefluid 52'contacts with section 38, circuit. to wires 50 and 51 will be completed' through. fluid 52., as the same is in contact with both sections 37 and 38, rod 41, 7

block 44 and. washer 49. Thus,- at everymoment that fluid 52' contacts with casing 38 bell 15will be caused to ring and lampv 14 will be caused to be lit.

It is observed that the entire mechanism within housing 24 is insulated from. plate 16 and rail flange 18 byinsula-ting plate 26.

The device herein disclosed with slight modifications may likewise be used as a switch for burglar alarms in automobiles. There however lamp 14 and bell 15 maybe substituted by a horn.

While there is described herein a preferred embodiment of the present invention it is nevertheless to be understood that minor changes may be made therein. without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

lVhat I claim as new is:

1. In an electric signal, a switch comprising a casing, said casing consisting, of two sections, a circuit closing element in one of said sections, andmeans for imparting swinging motions to said casing, said circuit. closing element being adaptedto; intermittently con:

tact with the other section ii'or intermittently closing the electric circuit.

2. In an electric signal, a switch comprising a casing, said casing consisting of two sections, and a circuit closing element in one of said sections, said circuit closing element being adapted to intermittently contact with the other section for intermittently closing the electric circuit.

3. In an electric signal, a switch comprising a casing, said casing consisting of two sections, said sections being separated by an insulating element for normally maintaining a broken electric circuit, a circuit closing element in one of said sections, and means for agitating said sections, said circuit closing element being adapted to intermittently contact with the other of said sections for intermittently closing the electric circuit when said casing is agitated.

4. In an electric signal, a switch comprising a casing, said casing consisting of a lower and upper section, said sections being separated by an insulating element for normally maintaining a broken electric circuit, electric wire terminals contacting with each of said sections, a circuit closing elementin the lower section, and means for agitating said sections, said circuit closing element being adapted to intermittently contact with the upper section, for intermittently closing the electric circuit when said casing'is agitated.

5. In an electric signal, a switch comprising a casing, said casing consisting of two sections, said sections being separated by an insulating element for normally maintaining a broken electric circuit between said sections, electricity conducting fluid in one of said sections, and means for agitating said sections, said electricity conducting fluid being adapted to intermittently contact with the other of said sections for intermittently closing the electric circuit when said casing is agitated.

6. In an electric signal, a switch comprising a casing, said casing consisting of a lower and upper section, said sections being separated by an insulating element for normally maintaining a broken electric circuit between said sections, a rod in engagement by one of itsends with the lower section, said rod passing through both of said sections and extending through and above the upper section, an electric wire terminal upon the upper section, an electric wire terminal connected to the upper end of said rod, said rod being insulated from said upper section, a circuit closing element in said lower section, and means for agitating said sections, said circuit closing element being adapted to intermittently contact with said upper section for intermittently closing the electric circuit when said casing is agitated.

7. In a railroad electric signal, a switch comprising a casing, said casing being pivotally attached to the rail and consisting of two sections, said sections being separated by an insulating element for normally maintaining a broken electric circuit between said sections, said sections being adapted to make swinging motions at the approach of the train due to vibration of the rail, and a circuit closing element in one of said sections, said circuit closing element being adapted to intermittently contact with the other of said sections for completing the electric circuit when said sections make swinging motions.

8. In a railroad electric signal, a casing pivotally attached to the rail, said casing eing adapted to make swinging motions at the approach of the train due to the vibration of the rail, and means within said casing for intermittently closing the electric circuit as said casing makes swinging motions.

9. In a railroad electric signal, a casing consisting of a lower and upper section, said sections being separated by insulating element for normally maintaining a broken electric circuit beteween said sections, means for pivotally attaching said casing to the rail for causing swinging movement of said casing at the approach of the train due to the result-ing vibration of the rail, wires attached to said sections completing the electric circuit and a circuit closing element in the lower sec tion, said circuit closing element being adapted to intermittently contact with said upper section as said casing makes swinging movement.

In testimony whereof I a-flix my signature.

ANTHONY HOROOHOWSKY. 

